purplenose
Well-Known Member
A bloody good back four with options all across, remarkable turn of events after last season really.
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#5 | John Stones - 2020/21 Performances
- Thread starter mccity
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A bloody good back four with options all across, remarkable turn of events after last season really.
Maybe not the best example to use on these forums but Sterling had something similar with competition.I half agree with that....
On one hand You knew he had the ability but on the other it really did seem that his head and confidence had gone to the point of no return at least whilst he remained here. Looked even more doomed when Ake and Dias arrived. One or both of that pair must have done something to Stones because he has looked top draw since they arrived.
Sané and Nolito arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progress? Ends up as 1st choice winger.
Bernardo arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progress? Ends up as 1st choice winger and key player in title success.
Mahrez arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progess? Ends up as 1st choice winger and has his best season ever to date.
Stones has never really had anyone to truly threaten his position long term, even with his injuries. Kompany was never reliably fit, Otamendi was never reliably reliable, and Laporte played on the other side. Fernandinho at CB and 19/20 year old Garcia were never going to truly make him feel threatened either. There was no true motivation.
Now he has to step up because we have 3 other CBs that will happily keep him out of the team for a long time if he doesn't buck up. And he knows that if he leaves City on a low it'll be a long time to get back up to the top for him.
Hopefully he keeps this up because the team needs personalities like that. Pep didn't compliment his balls by accident! We're at our best when we have a bunch of players that can step up when things look rough for them. Aguero, Walker, and Kompany are three of the best in my experiences, and Sterling does better than most. Much better than the likes of Hart or Sané that slowly wilted at the first threat of long term competition.
purplenose
Well-Known Member
Maybe not the best example to use on these forums but Sterling had something similar with competition.
Sané and Nolito arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progress? Ends up as 1st choice winger.
Bernardo arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progress? Ends up as 1st choice winger and key player in title success.
Mahrez arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progess? Ends up as 1st choice winger and has his best season ever to date.
Stones has never really had anyone to truly threaten his position long term, even with his injuries. Kompany was never reliably fit, Otamendi was never reliably reliable, and Laporte played on the other side. Fernandinho at CB and 19/20 year old Garcia were never going to truly make him feel threatened either. There was no true motivation.
Now he has to step up because we have 3 other CBs that will happily keep him out of the team for a long time if he doesn't buck up. And he knows that if he leaves City on a low it'll be a long time to get back up to the top for him.
Hopefully he keeps this up because the team needs personalities like that. Pep didn't compliment his balls by accident! We're at our best when we have a bunch of players that can step up when things look rough for them. Aguero, Walker, and Kompany are three of the best in my experiences, and Sterling does better than most. Much better than the likes of Hart or Sané that slowly wilted at the first threat of long term competition.
Very fair points, and despite being a Sterling doubter I think you are bang on about what a top striker signing could do for Sterling, especially if as a result of that signing he was played in his correct position.
jay_mcfc
Well-Known Member
Both Stones’ good form and bad form had nothing to do with competition. He’s been surrounded by good players since he came here. His good form has been when he’s played with a solid partner for a sustained period of time and his bad form has been when he’s been in and out of the side with injuries, off field issues and he’s played alongside less reliable partners. It’s really that simple. If he stays injury free, plays alongside Dias or Laporte and his mind is on it he’ll be a very good cb for us.Maybe not the best example to use on these forums but Sterling had something similar with competition.
Sané and Nolito arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progress? Ends up as 1st choice winger.
Bernardo arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progress? Ends up as 1st choice winger and key player in title success.
Mahrez arrived, what does that mean for Sterling people asked. Is he going to get games and progess? Ends up as 1st choice winger and has his best season ever to date.
Stones has never really had anyone to truly threaten his position long term, even with his injuries. Kompany was never reliably fit, Otamendi was never reliably reliable, and Laporte played on the other side. Fernandinho at CB and 19/20 year old Garcia were never going to truly make him feel threatened either. There was no true motivation.
Now he has to step up because we have 3 other CBs that will happily keep him out of the team for a long time if he doesn't buck up. And he knows that if he leaves City on a low it'll be a long time to get back up to the top for him.
Hopefully he keeps this up because the team needs personalities like that. Pep didn't compliment his balls by accident! We're at our best when we have a bunch of players that can step up when things look rough for them. Aguero, Walker, and Kompany are three of the best in my experiences, and Sterling does better than most. Much better than the likes of Hart or Sané that slowly wilted at the first threat of long term competition.
Prestwich_Blue
Well-Known Member
He's looked the part since he got back into the side and I'm absolutely thrilled for him. Hope his run in the side continues. He looks so comfortable on the ball but the acid test will be his concentration and whether he's got over his tendency to switch off.
PannickAtTheDisco
Well-Known Member
keep it up, though hardly 2 stellar opponents to judge him against.
kun
Well-Known Member
Looks the dogs bollocks again which is brill.
4 top drawer centre backs, what is this?
4 top drawer centre backs, what is this?
BlueMoonRisin’
Well-Known Member
I've always wanted Stones to succeed and prove us doubters wrong, myself included. He went from being a a reliable confident and assertive 22 year old with the world at his feet to an unreliable pub type plodder at an alarming rate. Pep didn't trust him preferring to trust an ageing CM to deputise his place whilst Stones sat on the bench looking on but rarely getting on the pitch. I believe he has suffered personal problems which had most probably been a big contributing factor in affecting his concentration and confidence to almost zero. It was baffling as to where the real John Stones was but it wasn't on the pitch, he looked scared and confused as a rabbit in headlights. I questioned whether he had the mentality to get back and command a starting place for us and get his England form as it looked like he could slip down the leagues for a good 12-18 months until very recently.
Something good has happened and I'm liking what I'm seeing. Early days yet but here's hoping. He is now playing for his place with desire and belief knocking balls about with confidence and accuracy and getting to being commanding in the air. Diaz is definitely helping John, Walker too and despite Laporte's recent loss of form, him too in training. Pep probably wanted to offload Stones to the highest bidder and wash his hands of him but nobody would stump up what we wanted and take a chance. I couldn't blame any big club tbh. He looked on a downward spiral to a football abyss down the leagues and I honestly thought he was done for at City.
But, I think Stones just needs to keep believing in himself and stay focused and he will become the excellent player we thought we had maturing nicely towards word class status to then seem to mysteriously be throwing his career down the pan, cos that's what it felt like to me.
He's still only 26 and could still help form a solid spine in the team. 4 CD's all fighting fort their place with a youngster, TH-B getting the odd game and minutes when games allow and learning all the time. It's good to see and a reliable LB will further strengthen our back line. We just need to start playing well with consistency putting teams to bed early with more pace and better finishing and we won't be far from the trophies, domestic at least. Silva has been a big loss but we must evolve into near where we were without him and it's up to Pep and backroom staff to get it right. Burnley and Fulham we have beaten which is always a good sign but a real test comes next weekend. If we switch off the rags are capable of destroying us. Next weekend will tell us a lot more about our hopes and fears and all our players must be at their best to beat United who took Wet Spam apart with 3 well worked and well taken goals.
Something good has happened and I'm liking what I'm seeing. Early days yet but here's hoping. He is now playing for his place with desire and belief knocking balls about with confidence and accuracy and getting to being commanding in the air. Diaz is definitely helping John, Walker too and despite Laporte's recent loss of form, him too in training. Pep probably wanted to offload Stones to the highest bidder and wash his hands of him but nobody would stump up what we wanted and take a chance. I couldn't blame any big club tbh. He looked on a downward spiral to a football abyss down the leagues and I honestly thought he was done for at City.
But, I think Stones just needs to keep believing in himself and stay focused and he will become the excellent player we thought we had maturing nicely towards word class status to then seem to mysteriously be throwing his career down the pan, cos that's what it felt like to me.
He's still only 26 and could still help form a solid spine in the team. 4 CD's all fighting fort their place with a youngster, TH-B getting the odd game and minutes when games allow and learning all the time. It's good to see and a reliable LB will further strengthen our back line. We just need to start playing well with consistency putting teams to bed early with more pace and better finishing and we won't be far from the trophies, domestic at least. Silva has been a big loss but we must evolve into near where we were without him and it's up to Pep and backroom staff to get it right. Burnley and Fulham we have beaten which is always a good sign but a real test comes next weekend. If we switch off the rags are capable of destroying us. Next weekend will tell us a lot more about our hopes and fears and all our players must be at their best to beat United who took Wet Spam apart with 3 well worked and well taken goals.
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